Spiritual Reflections at, TX US - ALL SAINTS DAY, Nov. 1

WHAT MAKES A PERSON A SAINT?
The Saints were not born 'Saints', in fact, many of them were sinners, who with the grace of God, became saints. On November 1 each year, the Church honors and celebrates in a special way all the saints, known and unknown, as they are now gathered together with God in eternal glory. The purpose of the celebration is fourfold:
1)To honor and thank God for the graces bestowed on them.
2)To help us imitate their virtues, their many examples of holiness and faithful service of God under all circumstances, throughout all ages and to help us reflect on their eternal happiness to which we also are invited.
3)To ask for divine mercy and assistance in our lives through the powerful intercession of the saints.
4)To honor all unknown or forgotten Saints on this special Holy Day. In all Saints' feasts, God is the only object of worship and the veneration which is paid to the saints is directed to glorify/honour God, who has graced and gifted them. Our prayers to the Saints are petitions to holy fellow citizens for the assistance of their prayers to God on our behalf. Thus, in honouring the saints, in and through them we honour God, and Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, Lord of the Saints, and the source of their sanctity and glory. In his blood they have washed their robes; from him they derive all their purity and grace. We consider their virtues as copies taken from him, the great Original, as streams from his fountain, or as images of his virtues produced by pouring his spirit and grace on them. His divine life is their great exemplar and prototype, and in the characteristic virtues of each saint some of his most eminent virtues are particularly seen. His hidden life in the solitude of the hermits; his purity in consecrated virgins; his patience or charity in some of them; his pastoral zeal in others; in all of them, in some degree, his virtue and sanctity shines forth. Nor are the virtues of the saints only transcripts and copies of the life or spirit of Christ; they are also the fruit of his redemption; entirely his gifts and graces. And when we honour the saints we honour and praise him who is the Author of all their good. Praise is a primary act of homage owed to God in his perfections. Thus the Psalms, the perfect and inspired model of devotions, frequently repeats sentiments of divine adoration and praise. So also, the blessed in heaven, eternally pour forth their affections with the freshness of pure love. So many holy singles of both sexes living in the world have renounced the business and pleasures of the world, to devote themselves to God in the exercise of praise, love, reparation and humble supplication. In these, all servants of God find their spiritual strength, refreshment, encouraagement, delight, and joy. To assist our worship and exaltation of God, we have recourse to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The external glory which God receives in homage from the obedience and praise of his creatures, though it does not increase his happiness, is nevertheless due him as Creator. This homage is also due God by reason of his goodness, justice, wisdom and power which he manifests in all his works. Manifestations of the divine mercies that we are, we are bound to give God incessant thanks for all the benefits of nature and of grace, which he has gratuitously conferred upon us. We further acknowledge with gratitude the wonders he has conferred on mankind since the beginning of time. For this the psalmist and the prophets so often recite and endorse his mighty works, and invite all to magnify his holy name on that account. It is in his Saints that God is wonderful above all his other works.[1] For them this world was created: for their sakes it is preserved and governed. In the revolution of states and empires, and in the extirpation or conservation of cities and nations, God has his elect chiefly in view. By the secret unerring order of his most tender and all-wise providence, "All things work together for good in them."[2] For their sake God will shorten the evil days in the last period of the world.[3] The justification of a sinner, the sanctification of a soul, the fruit of numberless, awesome works, the most wonderful extension of infinite goodness and mercy, and of Almighty power. The creation of the universe out of nothing is a work which can bear no comparison with the salvation of a soul through the redemption of Christ. And with what infinite care and tenderness does the Lord of all things watch over every one of his children! With what wonderful, invisible gifts does he adorn them! To what sublime and amazing a dignity does he exalt them, making them companions of his holy angels, and co-heirs with his Divine Son! Weak and frail, plunged in the gulf of sin, he, by his power and most tender mercy, has rescued from the evil one; has cleansed from all stains; and by the odornments of his grace has rendered them most beautiful and glorious. And with what honour has he crowned them! To what wonderful heights of immortal glory has he raised them! and by what means His grace led them in humility, patience, charity, and penance through painful experiences, sufferings, sorrows, mortifications, and temptations into the joy and bliss of heaven- by the cross to their crowns. Lazarus, who here below was covered with ulcers, and denied the crumbs of bread which fell from the rich man's table, is now seated on a throne of glory, and replenished with delights which neither eye hath seen nor ear hath heard. Poor fishermen, here the outcasts of the world, are made companions with Christ in judging the world at the last day; so great will be the glory and honour with which they will be placed on thrones at his right hand, and bear testimony to the justice of the sentence which will be pronounced against evildoers. "Thy friends are exceedingly honoured, O God."[4] These glorious citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem have been chosen from all the tribes of Israel,[5] and from all nations, without distinction; persons of all ages; all are fit for heaven; and out of all life's stations and conditions; in the royal households, amidst worldly grandeur; among the less fortunate; in the army; in the workplace; professionals; in government; clergymen, religious women and men, consecrated virgins; married persons, widows, and singles. In a word, every state of life has been honoured with its saints; And they all became saints in the occupations of their states in life, and by the ordinary occurrences of everyday life; prosperity and adversity; health and sickness; honour and contempt; riches and poverty; all of which became the means of their sanctification by the constant exercise of love, humility, patience, meekness, forgiveness, resignation, and fidelity to grace. This is the "manifold grace of God."[6] With the whole church on earth, we join the church triumphant in heaven in praise and gratitude to God for the graced lives of his Saints and the glory conferred on them. For ourselves, we ask a share in that same mercy, that, raised from our spiritual weakenesses and sins, we may be guided along the paths of grace and repentance to the joyful company of the saints, to which he most graciously invites us. We are attracted to join the company and happiness of the saints by their own example. Meditation on their lives of glory and immortality serve to inspire our renounciation of the inconstant, transient and empty honours of the world! Do we complain of our frailty? The saints were like us in everything. Aware of their weaknesses and insubordinate passions, they, through the grace of God, acquired the self-discipline needed to overcome the self, and to avoid dangerous occasions of sin, to acquire a loving and humble heart and to strengthen themselves through the sacramentaal life, prayer, trust in God and other means of grace. Thus, empowered by God, rather than the self, the saints triumphed over all their enemies, internal and external. We also have the same assistance available to us in our lives today. The blood of Christ was shed for us as it was for them; the all-powerful grace of our Savior is available to each of us in our daily struggles. As difficulties arise, or when temptations alarm us, or enemies place obstacles in our path, like wild creatures which seem ready to devour us,[7] let us not lose courage, but redouble our resolve, crying out with Josue,[8] "The Lord is with us. Why do we fear?" If the world pursue us, let us remember that the saints fought against it in all its vigor. If our passions are violent, Jesus has furnished us with the means to control them. Many furious assaults were sustained by the saints in which they were supported by victorious grace! Many such instances relay the difficulties encountered by late converts whose former lives were sinful. Sts. Austin and Augustine, after having lived sinful lives, conquered their senses and passions and converted to a Christian way of life and became saints. Many other Saints overcame greater obstacles than ours may be, by faithfully cooperating with the graces given them daily and ended becoming eminent saints. Do we shrink at the thought of self-denial or a prayerful life? Are we spiritually motivated to undertake what numberless happy women and men have done and are doing daily? Many Saints of all age groups, virgins and youths of delicate health and education, many noble born-princes and kings, so many of all personality types, constitutions, and conditions have courageously walked before us!
St. Austin said to himself one day, "Can I not do what these persons of both sexes have done?" Their example wonderfully inspires us with resolution, and silences all pretexts of laziness. To set before our eyes a perfect model of the practice of true virtue, the Son of God became man and lived among us. And that we may not say that the example of a God-man is too exalted for us, we have that of innumerable saints, fellow citizens, who, as they invite us to follow Jesus Christ, say to us with St. Paul, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."[9] They were women and men in all respects like us. They form a cloud of witnesses, who demonstrate for us, from their own experience, that the practice of Christian perfection is easy and sweet. They will rise up to condemn the evildoers on the last day. "You raise up your witnesses against me."[10] There is one gospel, one Savior and Lawgiver, Jesus Christ, and one heaven. No other road can lead us there but that which he has marked out for us. All may be saved and arrive at perfection, by the same path as the saints. There is no middle way of going to heaven; if the world does not live up to the gospel, the gospel cannot be brought down to the level or standard of the world. All Christians are called to work for their sanctification, to become holy in imitation of their heavenly Father. They bear his image, and resemble him by their sanctity and their adoption as his children. Christians are called through the gospel to self-discipline and to ridding their hearts of disordered self-love, replacing it with God's love. The Christian is animated with, and lives by, the Spirit of Christ; that is, the spirit of love, humility, meekness, patience, devotion, and other Christian virtues. It is thus that Christ lives in the soul and the soul in Christ. He enrolls all his children, as is clear from the gospel, and the writings of the Apostles. No distinction is made between the Apostles, or clergymen, or religious and laity. The former, indeed, take upon themselves certain stricter obligations, but the law of sanctity and conversion of the heart from the world is general, and binds all the followers of Christ, all who can be entitled to inherit his promises. What marks do we find in the lives of Christians who live thus--denying their passions, and having the Spirit of Christ reigning in their hearts and actions? Since habits, good and bad are formed by practice, a spiritual way of life, an interior disposition of love, humility, and other virtues would have a positive spiritual effect on one's conversation and behaviour, making them like the saints, humble, peaceable, mild, obliging to all. What, then, is the first duty of one who desires to become a disciple of Christ? The first thing a Christian addresses is self-discipline thus to overcome their insubordinate nature, i.e., pride, anger, lust, resentment/revenge etc., and then replenishing the heart with the spirit of love, humility, patience, forgiveness etc. Since all are called to be saints, none is excused from the obligation of overcoming sin and improving their lives. While God wishes all to aim at perfection, he desires them to do so in the world, in the general state of mankind; that all places in the world should be filled, is God's express command; also that the duties of every level/station in the world be faithfully complied with.[11] He requires that we not abandon the world but rather sanctify it by a conversion of heart and religious intention. Thus, every lawful state/station in the world has been filled with saints. God asks mankind to faithfully discharge every requirememnt of their temporal stewardship. The storekeeper is to attend to his shop, the farmer to his land, the servant to his service, the homemaker to the care of the household etc. These are essential obligations which people owe to God, to the public, to themselves, and to their children and families. God expects a person to balance life's demands with provision for personal leisure, time for spiritual and religious duties and those of their profession. It is the motive of our actions or good intention upon which, in a moral and Christian sense, the greatest part, or sometimes the whole, of every action depends. This is the soul of our actions; this determines them, forms their character, and makes them virtues or vices. The Saviour of the world has declared the path of salvation to be "narrow". It is doubtless difficult and requires resolution and courage. Who can think that heaven will cost nothing which cost all the saints so much? What worldly advantage is gained without sacrifice? The bread of labourers, the riches of misers, the honours of the ambitious cost much anxiety and pain; yet, what empty shadows, what useless tortures, what real miseries are the enjoyment which worldlings purchase at so high a price! While self denial may appear tough, its fruits in the soul are the reign of divine love; and the sweet "peace of God which surpasses all understanding."[12] The result of self denial is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the soul; it is accompanied by a pure and holy joy which fills the heart, and which the whole world can never take from the servant of God. Endnotes 1 Ps. lxvii. 36;2 Rom. viii. 28. 3 Mark xiii. 20;4 Ps cxxxviii. 16.;5 Apoc. vii. 3, 4, &c. 6 1 Pet. iv. 10;7 Num. xiii. 34. 8 Num. xiv. 9;9 1 Cor. xi. 1. 10 Job x. 17;11 1 Cor. vii. 20; Ephes. iv. 1;12 Phil. iv. 7. (Adapted from: from Vol. III of "The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints" by the Rev. Alban Butler.) Feast Of All Saints: Our Goal Is Holiness Through Prayer VATICAN CITY NOV 1, 2003 (VIS) Today, feast of All Saints, Pope John Paul appeared at his study window to recite the Angelus with pilgrims gathered below in St. Peter’s Square and, in remarks before the prayer, said that this feast, “by inviting us to look at the immense multitude of those who have already reached the blessed homeland, shows us the path that leads to that destination.” He added that “the Saints and Blesseds of heaven remind us, pilgrims on earth, that the support we have every day in order to never lose sight of our eternal destination is above all prayer. For many of them this was the rosary, a prayer to which a year was dedicated, a year that closed yesterday – that offered a privileged means for their daily talk with the Lord. The Rosary led them to an ever greater intimacy with Christ and the Blessed Virgin. The Rosary can truly be a simple and accessible way for everyone to holiness, which is the vocation of every baptized person as well today’s feast reminds us.” After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father noted that “it is the pious tradition during these days for faithful to go visit the graves of their dear ones and to pray for them. I too am spiritually visiting cemeteries in many parts of the world where those who preceded us in the sign of faith lie. In particular I pray for the repose of the souls of those about whom no one thinks, as well as for the many victims of violence.” NEW ROMAN MARTYROLOGY LISTS 7,000 SAINTS AND BLESSEDS VATICAN CITY, JAN 4, 2005 (VIS) - In Rome at the beginning of last month, the second edition of the Roman Martyrology was presented. The new Martyrology is an updated list not, as the name might suggest, of martyrs, but of all the saints and blesseds venerated by the Church. The latest edition of the Martyrology was presented during an event promoted by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to commemorate the conciliar constitution on liturgical reform "Sacrosanctum Concilium", promulgated on December 4, 1963. The new edition contains certain differences with respect to the earlier edition, which was published in 2001 and was the first since Vatican Council II. A number of typographical errors have been corrected and the 117 people canonized or beatified between 2001 and 2004 have been added. Moreover, many saints, mostly Italian-Greek monks, whose names have not thus far been listed in the Martyrology but who are effectively much venerated, especially in southern of Italy, have also been included. The updated Martyrology contains 7,000 saints and blesseds currently venerated by the Church, and whose cult is officially recognized and proposed to the faithful as models worthy of imitation. .../ROMAN MARTYROLOGY/... VIS 050104 (210)

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